Forget Canadian citizenship if you don’t have language skills

Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, said on Friday that before newcomers are awarded Canadian citizenship, they must learn at least one of the two official languages, i.e. English and French. The minister said that immigrants who do not have the required language skills should not be given citizenship.

Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney, said on Friday that before newcomers are awarded Canadian citizenship, they must learn at least one of the two official languages, i.e. English and French. The minister said that immigrants who do not have the required language skills should not be given citizenship.

Kenney said while he was announcing $9.5 million on programs for newcomers in Calgary that in spite of the Canadian government funding for various language programs for newcomers, immigrants aren’t able to take advantage of such programs.

The minister said that not more than twenty five percent of newcomers are enrolling in programs offered by the government, which, he said is too low and more people should come up and get enrolled.

He said that for many newcomers, access to language training services is the initial step in building networks and social contacts which would make them feel much more welcomed in their communities.

Kenney said that his new focus is on integration of newcomers. He said that the country does not want few silo communities where children grow up in a community that is more like their parents’ home country and less like Canada. He said that he wants everyone living in Canada to be Canadian first.

Canada provides citizenship to newcomers after three years of their arrival in the country. But many people leave the country after acquiring citizenship and return only sometimes to make use of the public health system of other facilities of the country.